Drinking Water Safety: Hexavalent Chromium Back In The News

The compound, hexavalent chromium is back in the news 19 years since it gained infamy in the Oscar-winning film Erin Brockovich.

The drama continues today in real life. More than 70 million Americans drink traces of chromium every day in their tap water, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research organization.

In 2010, EPA scientists discovered the chemical compound, hexavalent chromium, and came to a startling conclusion: Even a small amount of a chemical compound commonly found in tap water may cause cancer.

More than a decade after the film, EPA scientists cite “clear evidence” that the chemical compound, also known as chromium (VI), can cause cancer. The federal agency was poised to announce its findings in 2011, a step almost certain to trigger stricter drinking-water standards to prevent new cancers and deaths.

But now, as reported in the Examiner, it appears that the Environmental Protection Agency delayed any actions on drinking water safety due to pressure from the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a trade lobby, according to a Feb. 13, 2013 report released by the Center for Public Integrity. ACC urged the government agency to wait for more research before taking any action.

According to SourceWatch, ACC represents more than 150 companies and has an operating budget of over $100 million a year. It sends millions of dollars a year to congress in campaign donations to obtain favorable regulations.

In 2012, the EPA reversed its decision pending the results of new studies costing $4 million. However, the new research is being funded by, you guessed it, the American Chemistry Council.

So hexavalant chromium continues to be a threat to drinking water safety in North America. Be sure to your water filter removes dangerous chemicals like hexavalant chromium.